The North Dakota Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Service (TEDS) is designed to provide free specialized telephones and accessories to ND residents with severe hearing, vision, speech, cognitive or physical disabilities who have difficulty using standard telephones and who qualify financially.
Communication on the phone is an essential tool for routine daily activities. For persons who may have a memory, cognitive or learning disability, standard phones purchased from Target, Walmart, etc. can create barriers and challenges for these individuals to use.
Here is just a sampling of specialized telephone devices for people with difficulty learning or remembering. Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of all of the specialized phones for learning and cognitive disabilities currently on the market.
PHOTO DIALING
Identify the picture of the person the individual wants to call rather than having to remember and input a long telephone number.
- Features 9 memory photo-frame buttons for one-touch dialing
- Includes large dial pad
- Flashes a visual ring alert
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 18dB
- 10 memory photo-frame buttons for one-touch dialing
- Option for speakerphone use with 4 volume settings
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 40dB
3. Picture Trim Line Corded Phone
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 40db
- 2 Picture Memory Keys & 911 Key
- Visual ringer on handset
- Desk or wall mountable
- Line powered: Does NOT require AC power or batteries
4. Photo Dialer
- Connects to any analogue phone
- 12 big memory buttons that can be used for a personal photo ID or place a name on each button
- Memory buttons are 1” X 1”
5. Foto Dialer
- Connects to any analogue phone
- There are six pages with four picture slots per page
- Provides up to 24 photo buttons for one-touch dialing
- Holds 2” x 3” wallet sized pictures
BIG BUTTONS
Large number buttons make it easier to see what numbers one is dialing.
- Big buttons for easy dialing
- 2 Speed dial buttons
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 40dB
- Big Buttons for easy dialing
- 3 emergency memory buttons on top of the phone
- Can program 10 one-touch memory buttons
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 50dB
- Loud 95dB visual ringer
SIMPLE ANALOGUE PHONES
- Simple design
- Amplifies incoming sound up to 26 dB
- Visual ringer on handset
- Telephone without dial pad for incoming calls only
- For those individuals that randomly dial telephone numbers, make calls at inappropriate times of the night, etc.
- This phone does not provide any amount of amplification
- * Recommended only for those living in residences where alternative telephones are available for real emergencies.
CALL BLOCKERS
These devices are great additions for those who are vulnerable to scam callers and telemarketing calls. They work by only allowing certain numbers to come through the landline, and blocking any sales calls, recorded message calls or silent calls.
- Comes Pre-loaded with 10,000 known Robocall scam numbers
- Provides a Two in One Call Blocker with BLOCK LIST and ALLOW LIST
- Can block a further 2,000 numbers at a touch of a button
VISUAL RING SIGNALERS
Ring Signalers plug into any phone jack or connect between your phone and wall jack in your home, and when the phone rings these devices will notify individuals with a loud ringer and/or a bright flashing strobe.
- Provides bright strobe light only, no sound provided
- Powered by phone line
- No batteries required
- Lightweight
- Provides bright strobe light and extra loud ringer
- Wall or desk mountable
- Tone and volume controls
If you know someone that is a North Dakota resident who is in need of a specialized phone for learning, cognitive and/or memory, please complete the application for the TEDS program available on our website. ND Assistive staff will work with you to ensure individuals are provided with the right equipment for their needs.
If you are not a North Dakota resident, please visit http://tedpa.org/resources/ to find your state’s program. Please note that the each state’s specialized phone program has its own eligibility requirements and parameters for the phone equipment it provides.